I received this ebook from NetGalley and Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis ~ A teenage girl awakens to find herself trapped in a coffin. She has no idea who she is, where she is, or how she got there. Fighting her way free brings little relief–she discovers only a room lined with caskets and a handful of equally mystified survivors. Beyond their room lies a corridor filled with bones and dust, but no people…and no answers.
She knows only one thing about herself–her name, M. Savage, which was engraved on the foot of her coffin–yet she finds herself in charge. She is not the biggest among them, or the boldest, but for some reason the others trust her. Now, if they’re to have any chance, she must get them to trust one another.
Whatever the truth is, she is determined to find it and confront it. If she has to lead, she will make sure they survive. Maybe there’s a way out, a rational explanation, and a fighting chance against the dangers to come. Or maybe a reality they cannot comprehend lies just beyond the next turn.
“I open my eyes to darkness. Total darkness. I hear my own breathing, but nothing else. I lift my head…it thumps against something solid and unmoving. There is a board right in front of my face. No, not a board…a lid.”
Okay. Right there I was totally wigged out! I’ve always had a fear of being buried alive, (along with being eaten by sharks, and trapped in a burning house or car). I blame my father and all the scary movies we used to watch together!
Anyway, beginning with this claustrophobic scene, Scott Sigler takes his characters and his readers on a journey that is filled with many twists and turns (figuratively as well as literally)! I always do my best not to include any major spoilers in my reviews, but as the author has specifically requested that reviewers refrain from including them in their posts, I’m going to make a extra effort to honor his wishes.
The heart of the book is M. Savage, or as she winds up calling herself, “Em”. This is a teenager who has the mantle of leadership thrust upon her and struggles with all the responsibilities that come with it throughout the entire book. She’s a strong character who makes mistakes along the way, but except for a couple of mis-steps, is determined to do the right thing and validate the trust the other teens have placed in her.
The other characters aren’t as fully developed. This is partly because the narrative is told through Em, and also because there’s so much going on in terms of world-building, there’s little time for anything else. I’m hoping that in the next book, some of them also get a voice. I think it would make things even more interesting.
Starting with the first scene of the teens emerging from their “coffins”, not knowing who or where they are, the author masterfully sets up this mysterious and menacing prison-like atmosphere. At times there seems to be scenes featuring the group endlessly walking down corridors as they attempt to find a way out, but somehow I never found myself bored because there was always something else happening. There’s also a continuous air of suspense and forboding, because lurking in the background is that ever present sense of anxiety due to fear of the unknown.
It’s not that often when I can say my jaw literally dropped, but when the truth is finally revealed, it was definitely the case here. The big reveal doesn’t happen until the last part of the book, but believe me. It’s worth the wait. I had all sorts of theories and not one of them came close.
Alive is completely different than any of Scott Sigler’s adult fiction, yet his imaginative writing skills are definitely on display in his first YA effort. I think anyone who’s a fan of science-fiction, and dystopian-themed books like The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and even the classic Lord of the Flies will enjoy this. It’s a rollercoaster ride that will remind you of some of the things we all fear the most and it will keep you guessing right up until the very end!
theipc said:
There’s nothing worse than the fear of being buried alive….!
#nospiders
#lovekim
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Shudder! See, that’s why I’ve made it clear to my husband that I want to be cremated. Which now that I think of it is kind of weird given my fear of fire. Huh.😕
#ickyspiders
#maggots
#worms
#justtotally
#creepedmyselfout
#needextrahugs
#loveeric
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robbinsrealm said:
Excellent review!
Cool inclusion of Kenzi from “Lost Girl.”
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thank you so much! It’s alway difficult to have a review be intriguing without giving anything away. I LOVE Kenzie. I’m so upset that the Syfy Chanel cancelled Lost Girl! 😕
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robbinsrealm said:
You’re welcome.
I was sorry when I found out that it wasn’t coming back for a sixth season. I first started watching the show a few years ago on Netflix, and was able to catch up to it on SyFy for the start of its fourth season.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I missed most of the final season because we no longer get Syfy as part of our cable package, but I’m hoping it will eventually come to Netflix..
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Lola @ Hit or Miss Books said:
DAMN *shivers*. I think everyone is a little bit afraid of being buried alive. Saw a movie once in which men buried an alive women with some cockroaches and it was DISGUSTING and scary and, omg, I need to add this book to my TBR. Great review!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Lola! Eww! That sounds a little like Dean Koontz’s first book, Whispers. I had several nightmares after reading that! Alive is definitely getting a lot of buzz. I can see it getting made into a movie. I hope you like it.😊
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vinnieh said:
I think everyone deep down somewhere has a fear of being buried alive. Gives me shivers just thinking about it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Ugh!
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vinnieh said:
Impressive use of the Buffy gif.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Thanks Vinnie! As soon as I read that scene in the book I knew I was going to use a gif of Buffy waking up in her coffin.
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vinnieh said:
I always feel so sorry for Buffy in those scenes, she comes back a different person after the ordeal of clawing her way out.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
That was a difficult season. Even the musical episode was heartbreaking. 😕
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vinnieh said:
It was the darkest season of the show.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
😞😞😞😞
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The Telltale Mind said:
Sounds pretty decent. Might have to keep an eye out for this if it gets a softcover release as I prefer physical books.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Have you read any of his adult fiction?
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The Telltale Mind said:
Nope, never even heard of him actually. Though I enjoy horror, drama and pretty much every genre, I tend to stray more towards fantasy and science-fiction.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
His stuff usually walks the line between syfy and horror. I loved Pandemic. 🙂
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The Telltale Mind said:
Sounds like an author I would really enjoy then.
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susannahhtaylor said:
Sounds like a real good book! I’ve only heard good things and I can’t wait to get to it. Also Buffy ❤
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I hope you enjoy it. 😊 You can’t have enough Buffy and Supernatural gifs! 😊
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susannahhtaylor said:
There will never be enough of them!
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Molly Mortensen said:
I was curious about this one, but I’m a bit dystopianed out. It sounds a bit like Maze Runner. To me books like this are all about the reveal.at the end, so I’m glad to hear this one was good. Now the real question, how scary was it?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Sometimes you just need a genre break. There are similarities to Made Runner but not enough to take away from the story. I’m not sure if I’d call it scary. At least not in a true horror way. Like Maze Runner it has some scary/horror elements, but I think I’d call it suspenseful more than anything else.
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Molly Mortensen said:
Thanks. I’ll have to remember this one.
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Paul Stroessner said:
I really need to read some of Scott Sigler’s books. I heard that he was really good, and I love scary novels.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
The first book I read by him was Infected, which I think came out in 2008. I’ve been a fan ever since.
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